I'm flooded, now what?

I’m flooded, now what? If you have flood insurance, you are luckier than most, because you can recover more quickly.

To file a claim take these steps:

Collect your flood insurance policy documents.

On the information page, you should find the phone number to call to turn in your claim.

If you don’t have flood insurance you should still contact your homeowner's insurance company to see if they have any endorsements or coverage extensions that might help out.

If neither of the above apply, and your area was declared a disaster area by the federal government, you can still seek flood disaster aid through various federal agencies. Click on this link to find out more: http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

When can I get back into my home?

Safety has to come first. If water is still standing there might be contamination issues from everything from sewage to fuel in the water. There might also be other risks like snakes, alligators, electrical or gas line dangers. The first thing to do is get advice from your local authorities or emergency service teams. They will be able to advise you about when it is safe to re-enter your neighborhood and inspect your property. Your insurer can also be of service. Call the emergency help number at your insurance company. They have great insights into what to look out for, what to expect, safety tips, and of course, getting your home and family back to normal as soon as possible. Many household policies will cover the cost of temporary housing until your home is fit to live in again, but check your policy now to be sure. This is not something you want to find out later that you have not included in your coverage.